THE battle over homosexuality within the Church of England will be even nastier and more entrenched as a result of the withdrawal of the gay priest who was appointed a bishop, Anglicans were warned.

The Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Colin Slee, said that the row would go on and that the withdrawal of Canon Jeffrey John from his appointment represented a missed opportunity for tolerance and inclusiveness.

Incensed by the “appalling prejudice and abuse” that he said had been meted out to Dr John by fellow members of the Church, he accused his opponents of using blackmail.

He said: “Jeffrey John’s withdrawal only leaves a nastier and more difficult battle to be fought again one day whereas his consecration as a bishop would have opened the door to a better and more profound understanding.

“A minority of Christians in this country have used the cultural gap that exists between a few developing countries and Western churches to call in reinforcements to blackmail the Anglican Communion with threats of schism because they know they do not actually have a clear mandate beyond their narrow congregations in this country.

“The Church at large should be deeply penitent. The Church has to address the manner in which this relatively small group has sought to undermine the authority of the Archbishop and thereby the Church as a whole.

“The withdrawal of Canon John’s nomination will not only hurt those who are gay. This news will hurt thousands of Christian people who are not gay but believe strongly in God’s love and redemption.”

The Right Rev Richard Lewis, the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ispwich, one of eight bishops who last month signed a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury expressing support for the appointment, said: “It’s a very sad day for the Church of England when possibly the most democratically appointed bishop has to withdraw because of the pressure applied by a minority group.”

The Bishop of Leicester, the Right Rev Timothy Stevens, another to have written to Dr Rowan Williams in support of the appointment, said: “I’m saddened that this has divided the Church and put a great deal of pressure on a fellow priest. I think there is sadness and respect for him as an individual all across the Church.”

Peter Tatchell, the gay rights campaigner, accused the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury of betraying their own principles by allowing the canon to resign. He said: “Canon John’s withdrawal will give comfort and succour to the die-hard homophobes in the Church. It signals that there is no place for honest, truthful gay clergy like Canon John.”

Those opposed to the appointment, however, said that the issue of homosexuality was a very real threat to Anglican unity and that Dr John’s withdrawal had saved the Church from a damaging split.

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Rev Graham Dow, was one of nine bishops who urged Dr Williams to overturn the appointment.

He said yesterday that the decision had staved off a schism at home and between the Church of England and Anglican churches in Africa and the West Indies, and had prevented the Church from being pushed into a theological position that had not been fully discussed.

He praised Dr John for withdrawing and said: “He is to be commended highly for his courage. It’s a very godly thing for him to have done. He will be highly respected for his decision. I’m very sorry he became the focus but it will restore some stability while the issues are looked at more carefully. For now we should just let the matter cool off.”

Philip Giddings, the lay minister at Greyfriars Church in Reading, who led local opposition to the appointment, said: “I’m relieved but not triumphal. There’s no triumphalism over this. It was a very courageous statement by Canon John for the unity of the Church.”

Joel Edwards, of the Evangelical Alliance, said: “We are grateful to Canon Jeffrey John for exercising sensitivity in this matter and we are relieved that his actions have averted a situation which may have had catastrophic consequences for unity within the Anglican Communion.”

The Rev Rod Thomas, chairman of the evangelical campaigning group Reform, was keen that the Church should now turn its attention to the US where a similar appointment has been made.

George Curry, chairman of the Church Society, a leading evangelical group, had sympathy for Dr John but maintained that he had made the right decision. He said: “The Church has a responsibility that its leaders are faithful to the teaching of the Bible.”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Time-worn Freddie gives up Test matches
• Brighton company 'involved in cyber attack'
• The art of survival: it's all in the mind